Athletic Supporter

Yes, the name of the title was on purpose.

My son Jason is 11 and has played some sport pretty consistently since he was 4. He started with coach pitch baseball when he was 4, soccer for 6 years (travel for 3), 4 years of basketball, 2 years of a bowling league, 1 year of football, and this spring we are going back to baseball. I can probably count on one hand all of the games I have missed and I travel three days a week. I managed his travel soccer team for 3 years and I will co-manage his football team this year. Ira has been his assistant coach for various basketball teams and his football team. We have literally become friends with the majority of his coaches because we become so involved.

Ask me about stats, weight, milestones, and I can list them off. So, yes, we are probably a little more involved than most parents. I don't expect all parents to take the same amount of interest that we have. But, more than some of the activity that I see.

I honestly think that besides feeling a need to be involved, I am a product of a lack of parent interest. My Mom will tell you how she was at all of my activities and frankly I remember her being involved when I was little with brownies, but I do not remember her at a softball game, any basketball or football games that I cheered at, any cheerleading competitions, band concerts, and frankly she wasn't even at my high school graduation. My Stepmom and Dad did go to my softball games because I was too young to get there myself. But after 6th grade, that was the end of that. However, they were at my plays, concerts, awards ceremonies, and my graduation. Parents nights - my Stepmom walked me out once, my Mom was late once and then immediately left, and my Dad never attended. So, I usually walked with the coach.

If you can't tell, this was a pretty big missing piece in my life and I refuse to not be there for my kid whether he is bowling, playing basketball, or trying to tackle guys three times his size. Now, don't think that I do not know my limits and that he knows that if there is anything he would prefer I don't attend than I understand that as well. Afterall he is getting to that age where he isn't going to want Mom around all the time. But, he is still happy to have me there.

So, based on all of this, I still see these parents that consistently drop their kids off and make a point to not be involved. I know that some parents have obligations that prevent this, but most do not. And, frankly, if I can make the amount of activites that I do with my schedule, I tend to have a little less understanding for those that drop their kids off and then go home to take a nap.

We are having a bit of a political war between our community junior football varisty team and our school middle school football team because they cover the same 7th and 8th grade boys. I won't go into exactly how nasty this has become and how it is effecting our boys, but what I can say is that, in my opinion, it comes down to a couple of major things - money, time, and coaching.

So far we don't know who the school coaches are and I do know that we were happy with the varsity coaches last year (my son played a year early), I also know that Jr. Football is over $200 (compared to over $1000 in soccer fees and travel costs, I have no problem with that) vs. $50 for the school, and I do know that the games are on Saturday with Jr. Football vs. 4:30 on Thursday for the school. I can understand that people may have an issue with the money, maybe they don't like the coaches, and one day is better than the other. Frankly, those are the only three variables that should be evaluated. If none of them make a difference, then you look at what friend is playing where.

So, Jason likes the coaches, I don't care about the $50 vs. $230, but what I do care about is the 4:30 on Thursday - home or 2 hours away. I have a fairly flexible schedule and I would not make all of the games. As far as Jason's dad, he wouldn't be at any and I doubt Ira would make many either.

All in all, I would pay $1000 a season vs. $50 if it made a difference on whether I was able to see my son play any sport or not. I will hopefully always be my son's biggest athletic supporter :-)